PureMobile - Ultimate Cellphone Accessory Supplier- USA

Move over Liferpoof, there's a new waterproof iPhone 5 case in town. 9to5Mac reported on a new, seriously rugged case from Incipio, unveiled yesterday at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

The award-winning cell phone accessories maker's latest is the xGO, a rough-and-tumble iPhone 5 case that's waterproof up to 25 feet, and which the company has branded as an "action sports equipped case solution," ideal for the adventurous type.

The xGO blends a plextonium frame with a silicone core and sports a tempered glass screen, so that your iPhone isn't just protected underwater, but maintains full functionality as well.

Meanwhile, the case's mounting system allows you to "effortlessly mount the case to backpacks, bicycles, surfboards," and comes with a bunch of cool screw-in lenses for your phone's camera, like wide angle, fish eye, macro and zoom.

This latest Incipio iPhone case "provides our active enthusiast with the ability to protect their mobile device and take it with them on all their adventures,” said Incipio Chief Executive Andy Fathollahi in a statement. It's a solution that "changes the way you use your iPhone 5," the company says.

If you're a rugged, sporty or outdoorsy type and can't wait to get your hands on one, the xGO will start rolling out next month in a number of colors, and will be available along with add-ons like attachments, hardware, nylon hand straps and more.

This wouldn't be the first time, but The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported yesterday on a rumor that Apple is at work on a new iPhone that's cheaper than the current models.

According to the report, the cheaper iPhone that Apple is supposedly developing would answer to the fact the company is under increasing pressure to make a more affordable device in the face of "an onslaught of lower cost rivals powered by Google Inc.'s Android operating system," which are snapping up more and more of the market.

Citing "people briefed in the matter," the report says that the lower-priced iPhone would look more or less like the standard iPhone but would forego the iPhone 5's aluminum backing for a cheaper polycarbonate shell. And on the inside, the rumored smartphone would have some recycled parts from older iPhone models.

True, as the WSJ's Digits noted, even older versions, like the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S, are pretty steep without carrier subsidies. "The iPhone 4 without a contract, a phone two generations old, for example, costs $450 on Apple’s store," writes Digits.

But even coming from the WSJ, others warn not to read too much into this rumor. There was similar speculation as far back as February 2011, and nothing ever came of it.

In tackling the reasons we should be skeptical, Gizmodo probably put it best:

Is Apple working on prototypes made from cheaper materials? I'm sure it is. It's also working on prototypes with more expensive materials, and has been exploring both since the very first iPhone came out. But why would Apple sell an iPhone with iPhone 4S parts when it already sells the iPhone 4S? Why make an iPhone 5 out of cheaper materials when in less than a year's time the iPhone 5 will be discounted heavily to make way for a shiny new iPhone 6 (or 5S, or whatever)?

Nevermind that you can actually buy a cheap iPhone 4S through the Apple store already, or get a free iPhone with a contract. In other words, you can hope and pray for a new, lower-priced iPhone – just don't hold your breath.

Sony's Xperia Z, one of two new phones the company just unveiled at CES 2013

Last week, on Pure Mobile's Canadian blog, we reported on a leaked picture of two yet to be unveiled smartphones that prematurely popped up on Sony's website. The devices in question were quite clearly the newest additions to Sony's Xperia line, but we expected to have to wait until this week's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) to get some real idea of their specs.

And now as expected, Sony has brought the Android-powered Xperia Z and Xperia ZL to CES 2013 in Las Vegas, where attendees got to have the first real hands-on with the new phones, both of which are "worth getting excited about," according to Gizmodo.

According to reports, both phones have just about the same internal specs. Each sports a 5-inch,1080p TFT Reality display and a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor. And both are LTE-capable, with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage.

Even the 13MP cameras are the same and both can capture HDR video, except that the Xperia ZL's is rear-facing and the Xperia Z's is front-facing.

Sony's Xperia ZL

So far, the reviews are mostly raves, with Gizmodo calling them "the best phones Sony has ever made, by a huge margin," and with Engadget claiming "Sony may have a bonafide hit on its hands with the Xperia ZL."

So what's really so great about them? Well, for starters, the sleek, glassy surface of the Xperia Z is totally waterproof for up to 30 minutes at up to 3 feet. Meanwhile, the ZL, which isn't waterproof, works as a universal remote. Both phones also boast an awesome Battery Stamina Mode feature, that turns your data stream off when your phone is idle, so your standby time will be increased by up to 400 percent.

For a while now, Sony phones have sort of been taking a backseat to other Android devices. But if the reception at this year's CES is any indication, their newest phones may just have them poised to take a much more aggressive position once the Xperia Z and Xperia ZL launch sometime around March.

Griffin just unveiled its latest accessories, like the PowerDock 5, at CES in Las Vegas

We're smack in the middle of the Consumer Electronics Show, which is a pretty big deal for us at Pure Mobile. That's because the annual CES event is basically the biggest event around for anyone interested in the newest and best in mobile technologies, like the latest in phones and accessories.

It's where most of the major names in mobile, like Samsung, Nokia and HTC choose to reveal new smartphones and other gadgets, and where it's we get the scoop on the best new accessories.

This year's CES is still going on in in Las Vegas, and already we've seen some cool stuff for from one of our favorite accessories makers, Griffin. The company's already well known for its iPhone, iPad and iPod accessories, like tough cases and the like. And CES 2013 has seen the launch of even more Apple accessories from the company.

Among Griffin's newest offerings is the PowerDock 5, a USB docking station for iPhone, iPad and iPod that works on what Engadget calls a "toast-rack" design and can charge multiple devices at once with a capacity of up to 5 iPads at once. Pretty cool for households with more than a couple of people, or for really geared up techies.

But Griffin has as just as big of a reputation for audio, and they're living up to it this year with the launch of new audio accessories like an updated Lightning version of their iPad StudioConnect, as well as a new Mic Stand Mount "that works like a traditional microphone performance stand," says 9to5Mac, but for iPad. Oh yeah, and they've also introduced a new studio-quality XLR to 3.5mm recording mic for iPhone and iPad, but it won't be available til June

But for some people, protection doesn't mean much unless it looks good. Sure, some may dig the utilitarian charm of a rugged case. But there are others still who'd prefer a much less macho look, a case that says high-end cool, a case with a little glamour and a fashionable edge, but that does the job nonethless.

And that's exactly what you get from today's mobile accessory of the week. Versatile as ever, leading mobile accessories label Griffin has come out with a line of ultra cool iPhone 5 cases under the banner of their Moxy collection.

With an edge and style worthy of a spot in even the best fashionista's wardrobe, Grffin's Moxy cases come in a trendy range of colors, textures and patterns, adding some serious designer appeal to your iPhone 5.

In the case of the Moxy line, you get a smooth rubber-finish lining that protects your iPhone from scratches and smudges, along with a tough polycarbonate shell around the back and edges for impact resistance.

So even though Griffin's iPhone 5 Moxy cases stand up to the rest of your wardrobe in terms of cool, they're also hard to beat in terms of functionality, protection and performance.

Among the rumors is one that the iPhone 5S will come in a range of colors

No doubt about it, Apple's huge. Even so, analysts say its been, well, less huge than usual in the past few months. But nevertheless, they're expecting great things from the iPhone maker in the coming year.

If Topeka Capital Markets analyst Brian White is to be believed, that's because Apple is already planning the launch of its next generation iPhone, the iPhone 5S. As cited by BGR, White explained that the release of the next iPhone is expected to make up for Apple's recent 25% stock drop and that the new device is partly responsible for the fact that "Apple is our top overall pick for 2013."

According to White, we can expect the next generation sooner rather than later, with a tentative launch date between May and June. There are also musings that "the next iPhone will have more choices for customers," which may entail "an expansion in both the color patterns and screen sizes." If that's true, says BGR, this would be "the first time Apple has released one phone with multiple display size options."

So what can we then expect from accessories for the newest iPhone? Maybe open-front clear cases that show off the iPhone 5S' bright new colors and fit the different screen options? That's just a guess, so we'll have to wait til summer, if the rumors are true, to really find out.

Ah the New Year. Once we've all had our fill of overeating, sleeping late, and maybe drinking a few too many cups of eggnog, it's time to return to reality, and a slightly more austere daily routine.

But it's also a good time to look back on the past twelve months and consider what we could change for the better in the coming year. At pure mobile, we're doing just that, but with a tech spin.

We're calling out five common bad tech habits to work on in the New Year. But don't worry, we've also got some simple solutions to help you keep your mobile resolutions in 2013.

1. Exercise more

Let's face it, you've probably eaten enough turkey and sweets in the past two weeks to make the prospect of non-elasticized waistbands seem like cruel and unnecessary punishment. And, if you're like most of us, even if you return to your normal diet, you'll still find a couple of extra pounds you'd like to lose after all that feasting.

The funny thing is, no one bats an eye when someone they're talking to checks their watch, but whipping out your smartphone mid-conversation is still considered pretty rude. So, if you can't completely break the bad habit of checking your phone constantly (whether someone is talking to you or not), you can at least try an be a little less obvious about it.

If you have the bad habit of consistently texting and talking on the phone while you drive, your resolution this year should probably be to drive more safely. Lucky for you, keeping that resolution should be easy with a good car kit, like Blue Ant's S4 Bluetooth Car Kit.

It's totally voice-controlled so you never have to take your hands off the wheel or your eyes off the road. And it comes loaded with features, like a 2,000 phone number capacity, text to speech for caller ID, background noise reduction, and multipoint capabilities so you can connect 2 phones at a time.

Don't get us wrong. Text messages are great, succinct, to the point. But there are just some things that are best left to the long form of letters and email. If you find yourself texting things like "luv u" and "srry yur grandma died," make an effort this year to say more, even if you're sending a message from your touchscreen phone.

Design concept from earlier this year for an iSiri Smartwatch from Frederico Ciccarese

This wouldn't be the first time – remember Frederico Ciccarese's design concept for an iSiri smartwatch? – but rumors have been circulating about the possibility of an Apple-branded smartwatch in the coming months.

A report (via Chinese news portal 163.com) has been making the rounds on Mashable and 9to5Mac, among others, claiming that Apple and Intel are working together on a Bluetooth-enabled smartwatch that could be released as early as the first quarter of 2013.

The rumored iWatch may work like Sony Mobile's SmartWatch, which syncs with your smartphone and keeps you discreetly updated

Then, there are watch-style cases from accessories makers like Lunatik and Griffin that turn devices you already own, like an iPod nano, into a wrist-wearable smart device.

So, how would an Apple-sanctioned smartwatch differ from any of these? According to the report's sources on the Chinese supply chain, the iWatch would share some elements of other smartwatches. like Sony's device, it would be Bluteooth-enabled and sync to your smartphone, as long as it's an iPhone that is.

It would also be fairly dainty, roughly the size of an iPod nano with an 1.5" OLED display. Such a device, argues 9to5Mac, "could make sense for a future, Bluetooth 4.0-enabled iPod nano. Though they also note that its unlikely would choose to partner with Intel on a such a "low-powered, mobile product."

Today's foray into the world of mobile accessories is brought to you by Elvis. That's right, Elvis.

We at the Pure Mobile blog haven't been able to get the song Blue Christmas out of our heads all day. So thanks to The King, we're bringing you some of our top picks for blue iPhone 5 cases this holiday season.

Having a valuable stolen is already bad enough; You feel violated, and now you'll have to foot the cost of replacing it too.

Getting a mobile device, like a phone, laptop or tablet stolen is even worse, because, aside from loosing a costly device, you lose content like music and personal pictures and video, and personal information.

But there's at least one way to safeguard against this type of personal and financial loss. And it's so genius that we've named it our Mobile Accessory of the Week.

Kensington's Patented SecureBack cases attach to the rear of you iPad while their ClickSafe lock anchors are made from aircraft grade steel and secure to the ports on your iPad with a single click. These tamper-resistant lock anchors have thousands of possible key combinations, and are chrome-plated to resist corrosion and wear.

The security that Kensington cases offer is in itself a strong selling point, but the company has by no means neglected other areas of design.

For the full deal, you can get the Case, Keyboard & Lock for iPad 2, which includes a removable bluetooth keyboard and an integrated folio that does double duty as carrying case and multi-postion stand.